Ask Directions - Manoah

Manoah prayed to the LORD, saying, “Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born.”

Judges 13:8

Okay, maybe—just maybe—it’s a stereotype, but conventional wisdom says that we men strongly resist asking for directions.

We’ll drive around forever looking for an address when we could have arrived in a few minutes simply by asking for directions. We stumble around and sometimes fall, trying to please our wives when we only needed to ask them what they really wanted. We make false assumptions about our children’s needs when a little listening to them would erase all doubt.

Manoah, the father of the Israelite judge Samson, gives us a good example of a man who was humble and smart enough to ask for directions and some divine confirmation.

An angel had appeared to Manoah’s childless wife, informing her that she would give birth to a very special son who should be dedicated to the service of the Lord and his country. The angel also laid out the ground rules for raising the boy.

No doubt Manoah felt apprehensive about the birth of his son. Even after hearing his wife repeat the angel’s instructions, he wanted to know more. Instead of just wondering and worrying, he did what any man in need of directions should do: He asked God for help.

God answered Manoah’s prayer of faith. The angel soon returned to give him the directions and the confirmation he needed to take on the task of fathering such a special little boy.

Does anything in your walk with Christ—or in your marriage, family, or work life—make you wonder which way to turn? Do you require a little confirmation for some plan you have in mind? If so, take the time to earnestly seek the Lord and ask for what you need. He will never disappoint anyone who sincerely asks in faith.